In order to help prevent the need for costly lift truck repairs, it is recommended to inspect the front end of your lift truck regularly as part of your daily and even pre-shift inspection. By catching any problems in advance or as they occur, you could also help prevent damage to any kind of cargo as well. The following includes some of the common guidelines on what specific stuff to inspect during frequent inspections of your material handling fleet.
Forks
Frequently inspecting the forks is key because if these are worn out or cracked, they might fail without warning. Any kind of fork damage means that your forklift would need to immediately be removed from service until it is fixed and safe once again. Visually check your forks for any visible indications of damage or wear. If the cracks run deeper than on the surface, replace them. Any wear on the forks beyond 10 percent is another indication that you have to replace the forks.
Mast
The mast should ideally tilt backward and forward while being able to move down and up. You might need to lubricate the mast strip sliding surfaces and fittings if you find that the sliding surfaces are binding. On the inner mast there is a fitting located on each side. The lift bracket side rollers are another lubrication point and there is also one on every side roller. Once the lubricating has been completed, raise and lower the mast and also tilt it backward and forward a few times in order to guarantee that the lubricant is worked correctly into the fittings.
Tilt Cylinders
Your daily inspection needs to involve the checking for oil leaks and damage since an uncontrolled mast movement can be caused by oil leakage. Whether the leaks are situated inside of the cylinder or are external, the end result could be loss of fluid and cylinder drift. If there are any signs of damage or leaks, you might have to replace just the seals or the entire cylinder assembly.
Chains
Inspect and make certain that the mast chains are not stretching beyond their acceptable limits. Also be sure to check the chains for indications of damage or wear using a chain wear gauge. If there is wear beyond 2 percent, replace the chain. Also replace it if the chain looks rusted or kinked. The chain rollers and the sheave bearings should also be checked for signs of wear.
The mast lift chain would typically wear at the pin-to-link connections. You can experience chain failure if you discover wear. This could end up damaging front end components or even the product. If you need help determining what precisely to check on your lift trucks or if you do not have time on hand to carry out frequent fleet inspections, simply contact your local forklift dealer. Their trained service technicians would help your perform planned maintenance or PM inspections according to your scheduling and application requirements.